A radio station, street lights, theater signs, car dealers, piped in music at a supermarket. This is a view of a small town after dark.

The sun goes down and casts a long, deep shadow

across the red brick streets like an antebellum lamp

as the mists off the river bake the red brick buildings.

The movie marquee fades and flickers

while awaiting the coming attractions.

The city lights bathe the silent streets and

shine in the storefronts.

A soft white desk lamp gives

the radio station teletype

the third degree,

clickety-clack, clickety-clack.


The neon Pontiac sign hums

a solitary tune

as the IGA stereo

plays a jazzy generic number.


And on Halloween,

a lamp in the hardware store

pops out of a stove

with the face of an

office girl vampire